"Poor
absorption among Americans - especially those under stress, those eating
poorly, and senior citizens - has become an enormous problem. When the
human body cannot absorb nutrients properly, and when the food
themselves are of questionable nutritional value, the body is severely
compromised as a self-healing organism." -Todd Ovokaitys, M. D

Body Mass Index (BMI) is one of the most accurate
ways to determine when
extra pounds translate into health risks. BMI is a
measure which takes into account a personís weight and height to gauge total
body fat in adults. Someone with a
BMI of 26 to 27 is about 20 percent
overweight, which is generally believed to carry moderate health risks. A BMI of
30 and higher is considered obese. The higher the BMI, the greater the risk of
developing additional health problems.

Heart disease, diabetes and
high blood pressure are all linked to being over-
weight. A BMI of 30 and over
increases the risk of death from any cause by
50 to 150 percent, according to
some estimates. According to health experts, people who are overweight but have
no other health risk factors (such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure)
should eat healthier and exercise to keep from gaining additional weight. For
people who are overweight and also have
health risks, they recommend trying to
actively lose weight. Be sure to consult
your doctor or other health
professional before beginning any exercise or weight-
loss program.

In June 1998, the federal
government announced guidelines which create a
new definition of a healthy
weight -- a BMI of 24 or less. So now a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered
overweight. Individuals who fall into the BMI range of 25
to 34.9, and have a
waist size of over 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women,
are considered to
be at especially high risk for health problems.

BODY MASS INDEX CALCULATOR

Height

Weight lbs.

Exceptions to a high BMI score include competitive athletes and body
builders, whose BMI is high due to increased muscle mass, and women who are
pregnant or lactating.

BMI

Underweight

Below 18.5

Normal

18.5 - 24.9

Overweight

25.0 - 29.9

Obesity

30.0 and Above

Both Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (WC) can be useful measures of determining obesity and increased risk for various
diseases.
According to the National Institutes of Health, a high WC is associated
with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension
and
cardiovascular disease when BMI is between 25 and 34.9. (A BMI greater
than 25 is considered overweight and a BMI greater than 30 is considered
obese.) WC can be useful for those people categorized as normal or
overweight
in terms of BMI. (For example, an athlete with increased muscle mass
may
have a BMI greater than 25 - making him or her overweight on the BMI scale
-
but a WC measurement would most likely indicate that he or she is, in
fact, not
overweight). Changes in WC over time can indicated an increase or decrease
in abdominal fat. Increased abdominal fat is associated with an
increased risk of
heart disease.

To determine your WC, locate the upper hip bone and place a measuring
tape around the abdomen (ensuring that the tape measure is horizontal).
The tape
measure should be snug but should not cause compressions on the skin. The following chart should be helpful in determining the possible risks
associated
with your BMI and WC.

Classification
of Overweight and Obesity by BMI, Waist Circumference,
and Associated Disease Risks

Disease Risk*
Relative to Normal Weight and Waist Circumference

BMI
(kg/m2)

Obesity
Class

Men 102 cm (40 in) or less
Women 88 cm (35 in) or less

Men > 102 cm (40 in)
Women > 88 cm (35 in)

Underweight

< 18.5

-

-

Normal

18.5 - 24.9

-

-

Overweight

25.0 - 29.9

Increased

High

Obesity

30.0 - 34.9

I

High

Very High

35.0 - 39.9

II

Very High

Very High

Extreme Obesity

40.0 +

III

Extremely High

Extremely High

* Disease risk for type 2 diabetes,
hypertension, and CVD.
+ Increased waist circumference can also be a marker for
increased risk even in persons of
normal weight.
SOURCE: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute